Harboring a mutual love for both comedy and snowboarding, Vermont-based comedians Matt Vita and Collen Doyle have forged a fairly new friendship into what feels like a lifetime of creative triumphs. And while they’ve shredded some gnarly pow all over the trails in Vermont over the past few years, the pair is welcoming their steepest comedy challenge yet, and they’re more than ready for the drop.
Launching the maiden voyage of the Vermont Comedy Festival, which takes over multiple spots across Killington, Woodstock, Bridgewater and Pomfret between Thursday and Sunday (December 1 to 4), the feeling is surreal for Vita and Doyle. Having been something of pioneers for comedy in Vermont following their roles in opening the Woolen Mill Comedy Club, the first brick and mortar comedy venue in the state, the duo are floored by how much the scene has grown and as they bring comics and comedy fans from all over the country this weekend, they’re excited to see the progress they’ve made in making Vermont a premiere destination for comedy.
“We are super stoked for this, and it’s exciting to see local businesses and the community coming together and also getting stoked for it,” Vita tells Vanyaland. “It’s been a lot of work, and Collen and I have spent what feels like 20 hours a day on the phone together, so I’m glad he’s such an easygoing and good person to work with, or else I’d probably hate him by now. There’s been a lot of sleepless nights making sure everything goes off well and everyone is taken care of, but we’re feeling great about this, and it just feels awesome.”
With an eclectic mix of comedy and community-centered events scheduled for the festival, which include but are not limited to a free dinner at Ramunto’s Pizzeria for the opening festivities in Bridgewater, step-and-repeat photographers, and a one-minute stand-up battle to go along with the opening night pizza feast, and a headlining set by Joe List at Woodstock Town Hall Theatre to close things out, both Vita and Doyle are hoping to put a lasting stamp on comedy and entertainment in Vermont. Which makes perfect, since it was that simple of a notion that had them thinking about putting it together in the first place.
“Part of it was that there was no such thing as a Vermont comedy festival. Matt and I looked at it as something interesting in that this hasn’t been throughout the state, so we wanted to take initiative to do that and we were intrigued by the idea,” says Doyle. “Another part of it is that we aren’t in the biggest metropolis in Vermont, but we are in the most quintessential Vermont setting. Even coming here for a few days with this festival, you’ll leave feeling like you had that unique Vermont experience.”
Seeing it as a “two-way street” when it comes to supporting the community through the lens of the festival, Vita and Doyle have nothing but gratitude for the businesses in the area that hopped onboard as sponsors and general, all-around supporters of the venture like 506 By The River Inn and Long Trail Brewing, whose VT IPA had been tapped to be the official beer of the festival.
And while they’re awestruck by the support from local businesses and residents, it’s just as much of a pleasure for them to help bring people into the area for what they hope isn’t the last time.
“I’m really excited to welcome people to an area that Matt and I really enjoy and spend a lot of our time, and I’m also excited for the people and businesses in the area to see what we can accomplish when we all work together, lean on each other, and build upon what we love with the synergy of what we’re doing,” says Doyle. “Sometimes, it just takes an event for people to get behind. Specifically, with all the businesses in the mill where the comedy club is located, it’s just really exciting to see everybody working together to build this area up as a premiere comedy destination.”
While Vita has shown what he’s capable of when it comes to producing unique and electric comedy shows, he’s also known for his ability to throw an absolute barnburner of a party. In fact, he’s heard stories from people he just met about the legendary results of a shindig he threw as a freshman at BU, and he’s hoping he can work his magic at least one more time to garner the same lore and attraction to the festival. All in all, it really comes down to simple things: Bringing people and communities together, and throwing the best extended party imaginable.
“I just love a good fuckin’ party, and there’s nobody I know that can throw a better party than myself, at least before I met Collen Doyle,” says Vita. “It’s just such a great opportunity for us to do this, where we get to marry our two greatest loves with comedy and Vermont and bring it to such a level that’s not only going to be redefining what entertainment is in Vermont, but it’s also going to be a four-day, non-stop party.”
VERMONT COMEDY FESTIVAL :: Thursday, December 1 to Sunday, December 4 at various locations :: Show schedule and ticket info